Alberta Industrial Academy by H. R. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1912

Alberta Industrial Academy

By H. R. S.

PRIN. J. I. BEARDSLEY sends an interesting report of his school in Alberta:—

“We opened October 18, with an enrolment of thirty-four, but this number has increased till now we have one hundred nine, twenty-one of whom are outside this local conference. Eighty-five per cent are in our academy home. This crowds our meager accommodations to their utmost capacity, and we have been compelled to rent rooms outside, and to make other arrangements in our dormitories to accommodate those who have applied for admission. Many were disappointed in the failure of crops in the three provinces from which we have drawn our patronage, or more would have applied.

“We are yet in the building stage, although we have been in operation five years. But the determination of our managing committees to shun debts has contented us to do with crowded quarters, rather than labor under a burden of indebtedness. Our young men’s dormitory, which for the time being is also our school building, is being finished this winter by some of our students during their spare hours from study. We have a class in house painting, under a competent instructor, also a student, which is doing good practical work. Our broom shop has recently shipped its first consignment of brooms, and we hope to make a success of this industry, even though we must bring our raw material such a great distance. We have the two-hour system of domestic work, and find that it gives satisfaction.

“Our primary department has an enrolment of eighteen, included in the above total. This department, by request of the local church, has been placed under the management of the academy.

“God has richly blessed us this year in every way. This was especially noticed during the week of prayer, when he came very near to us, nearly every student taking his stand for the truth.

“A number of our students spent last vacation canvassing, and as a result several are in school on scholarships. One young man earned scholarships for his brother and two sisters, besides a scholarship for himself, and all four are with us this winter. We expect a larger company will go out this year.

“We can see God’s hand leading in the educational work in Alberta, and although many youth should be with us this winter who are not here, yet we know that God will open the way, and will provide them means of securing preparation for the work he has for each of them to do.

“Although the farthest north of any of our schools on this continent, we are blessed with beautiful weather, even in the depth of winter; and during the three years it has been my privilege to be connected with the academy, we have never lost a moment of school-time because of the weather. Some of our girls have walked from one-half to two miles, to reach the school, before eight in the morning, with the mercury from thirty-five to fifty degrees below zero; but we have had but one blizzard this winter, and that lasted only an hour. The Lord blessed us with a fair crop on the farm last season, and we have all our own stock feed and vegetables, besides over twelve hundred quarts of wild fruit

which we canned. We are now considering what we can do to provide for the students who will surely come to us if there is a good crop next year. We are trusting God to lead the way, and we know that he has a care for his own work in the earth.”

From all parts of the field come these encouraging reports, showing that where the truth goes, schools spring up to train laborers to carry it still farther, that the whole world may be enlightened with the glorious light of the third angel’s message.

H. R. S.